Archer&#39;s arm guard



Oct. 3, 1961 s, ow I 3,002,192

ARCHERS ARM GUARD Filed Jan. 13, 1959 INVENTOR.

STANLEY N. BROWER ATTOR N EY niteld States This invention relates toarchers arm guards and, more particularly, to a novel erchers arm guardincorporating improved constructional features including a metal insertfunctioning both as a stifiening reinforcement and as a tape formeasuring the distance between the handle and string of a braced bow.

Archers use protectors on their arms to avoid possible injury when thestring is released to project the arrow. The snap of the string towardthe handle of the bow can cause injury to the hand or arm holding thebow, particularly when repeated as during discharge of a series ofarrows.

As presently constructed, such arm guards comprise padding materialcovered with leather or fabric and having straps for securing the guardto the arm. Perspirantion soaking into these straps greatly shortenstheir useful life. In addition, perspiration can cause softening andwilting of the guard pad so that it no longer maintains its properdisposition on the arm. There has been a demand for an improved andstiffer arm guard less subject to deterioration from exposure toperspiration and moisture generally.

For best marksmanship, it is important that the archer know the braceheight of his bow. This is the distance between the string and handle ofa strung but undrawn bow. Once the proper brace height for best resultshas been established, it is desirable to maintain it constant.

However, the brace height varies with weather or atmospheric conditions,due to stretching of the string under humid conditions. Also, bows arere-strung at intervals, and any variation in the effective string lengthwill vary the brace height. There is a need for readily available meansfor constantly checking the brace height.

In accordance with the invention, a novel archers arm guard is providedwhich is highly resistant to deterioration and loss of shape due toexposure to moisture, such as perspiration, and has incorporatedtherein, as a structural element thereof, means for readily checking thebrace height of a bow.

More specifically, the improved arm guard comprises a cushion filler, offoam rubber or equivalent material covered on both faces by pieces ofrelatively strong and wear-resistant material, such as natural orartificial leather. The coverings are stitched together along theirperipheries and also along a pair of parallel seams extending centrallyalong the guard. These parallel seams define an elongated pocket openadjacent one end of the guard, one covering having, adjacent the otherend of the guard, an access opening into the pocket.

This pocket removably receives a graduated steel tape having a thongattached thereto and extending from the open end of the pocket. Thesteel tape is normally completely enclosed in the pocket, except for thethong, and acts as a stiffener retaining the arm guard in its propershape. However, the steel tape may be withdrawn from the guard andutilized to measure the brace height of the bow, the tape thusconstituting a single element having dual functions. The tape is ofsufiicient length that it need not be completely withdrawn from itspocket for use in measuring the brace height, which atter may be, forexample, of the order of 8 inches.

The means for attaching the arm guard to the arm comprises a pair ofbuckles secured to one side edge of the guard and a pair of adjustablelength elastic bands having means at their outer ends cooper-able withthe buckles. Each elastic band has adjustably mounted thereon a leathersweat band which underlies the elastic band.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made tothe following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustratedin the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an outside elevation view of the improved arm guard forarchers;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a bow illustrating the arm guard as usedin measuring the brace height.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm guard 10 comprises a pair of outercoverings, 11, 12 of leather or equivalent wear-resistant materialsomewhat tapered, in plan, from end to end, except for a widened portion13. The narrow end of covering 11 has a preferably circular opening 15adjacent one end and preferably centered, and its opposite or wider endis centrally recessed as at 14.

Tapered cushion inserts 16, 16 of foam rubber or its equivalent aredisposed between the wider ends of the coverings, in laterally spacedpreferably symmetrical relation. The coverings 11, 12 are stitchedtogether around their peripheries, as at 17, and also along a pair ofspaced, parallel, central seams 18, 18 each forming a continuation of aseam 17'.

Seams 18 define a pocket 20 closed at the narrow end of the guard andopening into recess 14. Pocket 20 receives a graduated spring steel rule25 having a length somewhat less than that of pocket 20. A thong 26 isattached to the outer, end of rule 25 so that the rule may be easilypulled out for use in measuring the brace height of a bow. Tape 25 actsas a reinforcing stiffener for the arm guard, resisting deformation andloss of shape thereof.

The arm guard .10 has a definite length, for example 6 inches, and thusforms a part of the measuring means. The rule 25 is pulled out so thatthe measurement indicated by the pulled-out portion thereof, withreference to the end of the arm guard adjacent the open end of pocket20, plus the length of the body portion of the arm guard, gives thedesired brace height.

On one side of the arm guard, a pair of buckles 21 are attached theretoby tapes sewn between the coverings by one seam 17. One buckle isadjacent portion 13 and the other adjacent the wider end of guard 10. Onthe opposite side of the guard, a pair of elastic bands or straps 22have their inner ends stitched between the coverings 11 and 12 by theother seam 17, each band 22 being aligned with a buckle 21. Bands 22 arepassed through length adjusters 23 and hooks 24, and have their freeends secured to adjusters 22, the eliective lengths of bands 22 beingthus easily adjustable. Hooks 24 are adapted to engage buckles 21.

Between its inner end and its associated adjuster 23, each elastic band22 has slidably mounted thereon a leather sweat band 30' which underliesthe elastic band, bands 22 passing beneath strap portions 31 of sweatbands 30. Sweat bands 30 protect elastic bands 22 against absorption ofperspiration.

To use rule 25 to measure the brace height of a how, the rule isextended from pocket 20 by pulling thong 26 outwardly. The rule may thenbe placed between the handle 33 and string 34 of a bow 30. Should thong26 become detached from rule 25, access to the rule is provided throughhole 15 in covering 11, this hole intersecting pocket 20.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventionprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An arm guard for archers comprising, in combination, a pair ofelongated mating coverings of wear-resistant material of a length andwidth to substantially cover the forearm of the archer, said coveringssecured together along a pair of laterally spaced parallel longitudinallines defining a longitudinally extending pocket; an elongatedsubstantially flat strip of resilient metal within said pocket andacting as a stiffening reinforcement for the archers arm guard; and tiemeans attached to the sides of the arm guard to secure the latter on anarchers arm.

2. An arm guard for archers comprising, in combination, a pair ofelongated mating coverings of Wear-resistant material of a length andwidth :to substantially cover the forearm of the archer, said coveringssecured together along a pair of laterally spaced parallel longitudinalseams defining a longitudinally extending pocket, and along theirperipheral margins; an elongated substantially flat strip of resilientmetal within said pocket and acting as a stiffening reinforcement forthe archers arm guard; and means attached to the sides of the arm guardto secure the latter on an archers arm.

3. An arm guard for archers comprising, in combination, a pair ofelongated mating coverings of Wear-resistant material of a length andwidth to substantially cover the forearm of the archer, said coveringssecured together along a pair of laterally spaced parallel longitudinalseams defining a longitudinally extending pocket, and along theirperipheral margins; an elongated substantially fiat strip of resilientmetal within said pocket and acting as a stifiening reinforcement forthe archers arm guard; pads of cushioning material disposed between saidcoverings on each side of said pocket; and tie means attached to thesides of the arm guard to secure the latter on an archers arm.

4. An arm guard for archers comprising, in combination, a pair ofelongated mating coverings of Wear-resistant material of a length andwidth to substantially cover the forearm of the archer, said coverings.secured together along a pair of laterally spaced parallel longitudinalseams defining a longitudinally extending pocket, and along theirperipheral margins; fifl BlOIlgfltfld substantially flat strip ofresilient metal Within *saidpocket and acting as a stilfeningreinforcement for the archers arm guard; tie means attached to the sidesof the archers arm guard to secure the latter on an archers-arm;and-sweat bands mounted on said tie means.

5. An arm guard as claimed in claim 1 in which said pocket has an openend and said strip is removable from said pocket.

6. An arm guard as claimed in claim '-3 in which said strip is agraduated spring steelrule useable conjointly with the 'archers armguard in measuring the brace height of a bow and a thong attached tosaidrule and extending from said pocket.

7. An arm guard as claimed in clairn'6 in which said rule is shorterthan said pocket, one covering having a pocket access opening adjacentthe closed end of said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS794,294 Gardner July 11, 1905 930,740 Dean Aug. 10, 1909 1,419,374Gunkel June 13, 1922 1,851,011 Jensen "Mar. 29, 1932 1,972,197 McCannSept. 4, 1934 2,763,004 Sanders Sept. 18, 1956 2,784,411 Engleston Mar.12, 1957 2,832,074 'Wheeler Apr. 29, 1958

